2019 MLB Predictions
Predictions for the 2019 MLB Season – please submit your own predictions in the Comments section below!
| 2019 AL East Winner | New York Yankees |
| 2019 AL Central Winner | Minnesota Twins |
| 2019 AL West Winner | Houston Astros |
| 2019 AL Wild Card 1 | Boston Red Sox |
| 2019 AL Wild Card 2 | Los Angeles Angels |
| 2019 NL East Winner | Philadelphia Phillies |
| 2019 NL Central Winner | Chicago Cubs |
| 2019 NL West Winner | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 2019 NL Wild Card 1 | St. Louis Cardinals |
| 2019 NL Wild Card 2 | Colorado Rockies |
| 2019 ALCS Winner | New York Yankees |
| 2019 NLCS Winner | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 2019 World Series Champions | New York Yankees |
| 2019 AL MVP | Mike Trout |
| 2019 AL Cy Young | Chris Sale |
| 2019 AL Rookie of the Year | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. |
| 2019 NL MVP | Nolan Arenado |
| 2019 NL Cy Young | Aaron Nola |
| 2019 NL Rookie of the Year | Fernando Tatis Jr. |
The Yankees feature a robust offense, well-built bullpen and a respectable starting staff along with depth throughout their roster. New York and Boston will battle valiantly into September and I suspect this race will come down to the wire. The Red Sox are an offensive juggernaut with a talented rotation. However their bullpen concerns leave them vulnerable in the late innings. Tampa Bay surprised many prognosticators in 2018. They have many moving parts (utility players, “openers”, etc.) and I believe they can give the Bronx Bombers and the BoSox a run for their money. The highlight of Toronto’s season will be the highly anticipated arrival of the sons of former Major Leaguers. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s debut along with Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio portend a Blue Jays’ renaissance in the coming years, but not in 2019. Baltimore is in full rebuild mode… other than watching the development of their prospects and flipping a few veterans at the trade deadline, there’s not much to see here.
Despite the defections of Michael Brantley, Edwin Encarnacion, Cody Allen and Andrew Miller, many predict Cleveland to run away with the AL Central by at least 10 games. In my opinion the final result will be much closer as Minnesota’s young talent gels with their veteran acquisitions (Nelson Cruz, Jonathan Schoop, Marwin Gonzalez). In various states of roster overhauls, the Royals, Tigers and White Sox vie for third place. I’ll give the nod to the Pale Hose, with Kansas City edging Detroit for 4th place.
Houston is the class of the AL West, although their rotation took a hit with the departures of Dallas Keuchel and Charlie Morton. Second place will be up for grabs between the upstart Athletics and the re-tooled Angels. Seattle and Texas fight for the scraps at the bottom of the heap.
The four-way battle for supremacy in the National League East will be a hard-fought campaign. I selected the Phillies to emerge victorious but I could have just as easily selected the Braves, Mets or Nationals. Excited to see a full season of Ronald Acuna Jr. (Atlanta), Victor Robles and Juan Soto (Washington) in 2019. The Marlins’ pitching staff could surprise a few folks but this squad has the long road back to contention.
Figuring on a bit of regression for the Brew Crew this year, I’m looking for the Cubbies and Redbirds to clash for the NL Central crown. All of the contenders in this division have bullpen issues that need to be addressed. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati are no pushovers but I have them coming up a bit short.
San Diego’s offseason addition of Manny Machado along with the promotion of prospects Fernando Tatis Jr. and Chris Paddack provide evidence of the Friars’ desire to make this a 3-team race. The Dodgers and Rockies remain the class of the NL West and should push each other towards playoff berths. Arizona reset their clock when they dealt franchise first-sacker Paul Goldschmidt. I’m puzzled by the Giants inability to look to the future… the current roster seems to be in dire need of a reboot.
